2025/11/30 SCRIPTURE REFLECTION

First Sunday of Advent

- Jessica Tello Kleinschmidt, Asst Mgr of Events & Ministry Engagement

As we begin the First Sunday of Advent, I find myself reflecting on what this season truly means. Advent is a time of waiting, preparation, and deep expectation. It marks the beginning of a new liturgical year—a spiritual fresh start. The First Sunday of Advent focuses on HOPE, which is the foundation of everything that follows in this season. This hope is not just a nice feeling; it is a confident trust that God is with us, that Christ is coming, and that His light can enter even the darkest places of our lives. 

Advent invites us to hold onto hope even when life feels overwhelming or uncertain. We hope for Christ’s coming at Christmas, we hope for His presence guiding us each day, and we hope for His return at the end of time. Hope is what keeps us spiritually awake, alert, and ready for God’s movement in our lives. 

Today’s Gospel from Matthew 24:37–44 connects beautifully to this theme. Jesus tells His disciples to “stay awake,” because they do not know the hour when the Son of Man will come. He reminds them of the days of Noah, when people were so focused on their routines that they didn’t recognize what God was doing around them. This Gospel made me pause, because it is so easy—especially during the holiday season—to get distracted with all the shopping, decorating, and planning. Sometimes we forget to look for Jesus in the middle of it all. 

When Jesus says, “stay awake,” I hear Him calling me to a hopeful awareness. Advent teaches me that God often comes quietly and gently, in moments we may overlook. If my heart is too busy or distracted, I might miss the ways He is trying to speak to me or guide me. 

This message reminds me of something my dad always told my sisters and I growing up: “If you have hope and believe in God, He will help you with what you want. You just need to truly want it.” His words come back to me strongly during Advent. Hope is not passive—it is choosing to trust that God is working, choosing to believe that He hears our prayers, and choosing to open our hearts to His timing. 

My parents also always reminded us that putting up the Christmas tree, gathering with loved ones, and giving and receiving gifts are all wonderful traditions—but we must never forget the heart of Christmas. Advent helps bring me back to that: preparing not only my home for Christmas, but preparing my heart for Jesus.